California-Tensions Escalate as Trump Orders 700 Marines to Los Angeles Amid Immigration Protests

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, who were placed in an alert status over the weekend to support #USNORTHCOM mission, prepare to depart for the greater Los Angeles area June 9

A dramatic standoff between California state officials and the federal government intensified Monday as President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 700 active-duty U.S. Marines and an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to escalating protests over federal immigration enforcement.

California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the move, calling it an unconstitutional overreach and vowing to sue the Trump administration for what he described as an illegal federalization of the National Guard. “U.S. Marines have served honorably across multiple wars in defense of democracy. They are heroes. They shouldn’t be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President,” Newsom said.

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, who were placed in an alert status over the weekend to support #USNORTHCOM mission, prepare to depart for the greater Los Angeles area June 9

The Marines, drawn from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment based in Twentynine Palms, will join over 2,100 National Guardsmen in the city. According to U.S. Northern Command, the Marines have been trained in de-escalation tactics, crowd control, and strict rules of engagement. Their mission is to protect federal property and law enforcement officers, not engage protesters directly.

Pentagon officials said the deployment came in response to "increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings." Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated, “We have an obligation to defend federal law enforcement officers—even if Gavin Newsom will not.”

The troop mobilization follows days of protests across Los Angeles that turned violent in several areas, with vehicles set on fire, demonstrators throwing objects from overpasses, and major highways like the 101 Freeway temporarily shut down. Law enforcement declared several gatherings unlawful and dispersed crowds with tear gas and flash-bangs. The LAPD and California National Guard troops were deployed throughout the city in riot gear as the situation escalated.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit would be filed Monday afternoon, accusing the Trump administration of violating California’s sovereignty and abusing federal authority. “This action is unnecessary, counterproductive, and most importantly, unlawful,” Bonta said.

Newsom authorized 800 additional state and local law enforcement officers to support the city’s response to the protests. “Chaos is exactly what Trump wanted. Now we are sending in hundreds more law enforcement to pick up the pieces,” he stated. “State and local leaders stand together, coordinated and resolute to ensure the safety of the Los Angeles region.”

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, who were placed in an alert status over the weekend to support #USNORTHCOM mission, prepare to depart for the greater Los Angeles area June 9

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass supported Newsom’s response, saying, “While Washington choreographed these chaotic events, the LAPD and local law enforcement continue to effectively respond.”

The Trump administration maintains that the deployment is needed to quell what it describes as “migrant riots” linked to its crackdown on undocumented immigrants. In a social media post, Trump claimed the federal forces would “liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion… Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free.”

Newsom responded directly, urging Californians to remain peaceful and not “take Trump’s bait.” He warned: “This isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego. This is reckless, pointless, and disrespectful to our troops.”

The lawsuit filed by California asserts that Trump’s unilateral move to deploy military forces without the state’s consent violates the U.S. Constitution and undermines democratic norms. “One of the cornerstones of our Nation and our democracy is that our people are governed by civil, not military, rule,” the lawsuit reads. “Trump used a protest that local authorities had under control to make another unprecedented power grab, this time at the cost of the sovereignty of the State of California.”

With over 4,000 Guardsmen and 700 Marines expected to be active in Los Angeles, the situation marks a historic and controversial moment in federal-state relations, raising serious constitutional questions and heightening political tensions ahead of the 2026 election cycle.